Method of recognizing QR code in image data and apparatus and method for converting QR code in content data into touchable object

ABSTRACT

Provided are a method of recognizing a quick response (QR) code in image data, and an apparatus and method for converting a QR code in content data into a touchable object. The method of converting a QR code in content data into a touchable object includes a step in which a computer device receives content data including a QR code, a step in which the computer device recognizes the QR code in the content data, and a step in which the computer device converts an image in which the QR code is shown into a touchable object for executing a command included in the QR code. The converting step includes interpreting, at the computer device, the command included in the recognized QR code, and modifying, at the computer device, a code of the content data to convert the image into the touchable object for executing the command.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C§119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2012-0079924, filed on Jul. 23,2012, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosureof which is incorporated herein by reference for all purpose.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The following description relates generally to a method of recognizing aquick response (QR) code in image data, and an apparatus and method forconverting a QR code in content data into a touchable object.

2. Description of Related Art

With the proliferation of smart phones, a variety of services using QRcodes have recently been provided. A QR code is a two-dimensional codehaving various pieces of information in a quadrilateral grid. While anexisting one-dimensional (1D) bar code can only store numericalinformation of about 20 digits, a QR code can store several thousands ofdigits or letters and also has a superior recognition speed, recognitionrate and restorability of stored data in a QR code to a general barcode.

A QR code is provided in the form of an image that is output in adocument or on a display device. A user photographs the QR code using acamera installed in a device such as a smart phone, and accessesinformation stored in the QR code by decoding the photographedinformation. To decode the QR code, the user generally utilizes anadditional camera.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect, there is provided a method of recognizing a quickresponse (QR) code in image data including: displaying, at a computerdevice, an image including a QR code through a display device includinga touch panel; receiving, at the touch panel, a signal for selecting aregion in which the QR code is shown; and recognizing, at the computerdevice, the QR code from the image.

The signal may be a touch signal for the region in which the QR code isshown, or a gesture for selecting the region in which the QR code isshown.

The recognizing the QR code may include: when the signal is a touchsignal for the region in which the QR code is shown searching for astandard QR code pattern in a search region of the image while extendingthe search region centering on a region in which the touch signal isinput; and recognizing the QR code based on the searched standard QRcode pattern.

The searching for the standard QR code pattern may include acquiringdata of the image per pixel while moving a target pixel in a spiraldirection from a central point of the region in which the touch signalis input.

The standard QR code pattern may be at least one of a timing pattern, analignment pattern, and a plurality of position patterns.

The method of recognizing a quick response (QR) code in image data mayfurther include storing, at the computer device, data included in the QRcode in a memory of the computer device

The method of recognizing a quick response (QR) code in image data mayfurther include interpreting, at the computer device, a vibrationpattern command included in the QR code; and vibrating, at the displaydevice, according to the vibration pattern command.

The image may be included in a web page displayed on the display deviceor content of an application.

In another aspect, there is provided a method of converting a quickresponse (QR) code in content data into a touchable object including:receiving, at a computer device, content data including a QR code;recognizing, at the computer device, the QR code in the content data;and converting, at the computer device, an image in which the QR code isshown into a touchable object for executing a command included in the QRcode.

The recognizing the QR code may include detecting image data in thecontent data; and determining the QR code in the image data.

The converting the image may include interpreting the commandcorresponding to the recognized QR code; and converting a code of thecontent data to convert the image into the touchable object forexecuting the command.

The content data may be made up of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), incase of that the recognizing the QR code may include searching the HTMLof a code for inserting the image to recognize the QR code, and theconverting the image may include interpreting the command of the QR codeand then converting the inserting code into a code for a link to atouchable icon for executing the command.

The method of converting a quick response (QR) code in content data intoa touchable object may be further include displaying, at a displaydevice connected with the computer device, the touchable object, whereinthe touchable object is at least one of a QR code type, a text type, anda button type.

The receiving the content data may include generating, at the computerdevice, the QR code including information stored in a memory; andplacing, at the computer device, the generated QR code into the contentdata.

In another general aspect, there is provided a method of generatingcontent data including a quick response (QR) code, including:displaying, at a computer device, content of an application through adisplay device including a touch panel; receiving, at the touch panel, aQR code generation signal; generating, at the computer device, a QR codeincluding data stored in a memory; and placing, at the computer device,the QR code into the content.

The generating the QR code may include storing the data in a cloudserver through wireless communication, and generating the QR codeincluding a key for accessing the cloud server when the data exceeds astorage capacity of the QR code.

The application may be at least one of a mail application, a socialnetworking service (SNS) application, a messenger application, and a webpage building application, and the placing the QR code may include,modifying, at the computer device, a code of the content so that the QRcode is included in the content as an image.

In yet another general aspect, there is provided a An apparatus forconverting a quick response (QR) code in content data into a touchableobject, including: a memory configured to receive content data includinga QR code; a processor configured to recognize the QR code in thecontent data, and convert the QR code in the content data into atouchable object for executing a command included in the QR code; and acommunication module configured to transmit the content data includingthe converted QR code.

The processor may detect image data in the content data, and determinethe QR code in the image data.

The processor may determine a standard QR code pattern in the image datathrough image analysis.

The processor may interpret the command corresponding to the recognizedQR code, and modify a code of the content data to include the touchableobject for executing the command.

Other features and aspects may be apparent from the following detaileddescription, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of recognizinga quick response (QR) code in image data.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an apparatus forrecognizing a QR code in image data.

FIG. 3(A) and FIG. 3(B) illustrates an example in which a user sets arecognition mode to recognize a QR code displayed on a display device.

FIG. 4(A) and FIG. 4(B) illustrates an example of checking whether ornot there is a QR code centering around a point touched by a user in adisplay device.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a QR code including a plurality ofpatterns.

FIG. 6(A) and FIG. 6(B) are block diagrams illustrating examples of anapparatus for converting a QR code in content data into a touchableobject.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a server forconverting a QR code in content data into a touchable object.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of convertinga QR code in content data into a touchable object.

FIG. 9(A) illustrates an example in which content data including QRcodes is displayed on a display device.

FIG. 9(B) illustrates an example in which the QR codes of FIG. 9(A) havebeen converted into touchable objects.

FIG. 10(A) illustrates an example in which a user touches a QR codedisplayed on a display device.

FIG. 10(B) illustrates an example in which a command stored in the QRcode touched in FIG. 10(A) has been executed.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of placing a QR code in content datadisplayed on a display device. and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of generatingcontent data including a QR code.

Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwisedescribed, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood torefer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative sizeand depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity,illustration, and convenience.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader ingaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses,and/or systems described herein. Accordingly, various changes,modifications, and equivalents of the systems, apparatuses and/ormethods described herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill inthe art. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructionsmay be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.

The presently described examples will be understood by reference to thedrawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout.The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the size andrelative sizes of the layers and regions may have been exaggerated forclarity.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, A, B, etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another. For example, a first element could be termed asecond element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a firstelement, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of oneor more of the associated listed items.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,”“comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specifythe presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

Before starting detailed explanations of figures, components that willbe described in the specification are discriminated merely according tofunctions mainly performed by the components or conventionally carriedout according to common knowledge of related technical fields. That is,two or more components which will be described later can be integratedinto a single component. Furthermore, a single component which will beexplained later can be separated into two or more components. Moreover,each component which will be described can additionally perform some orall of a function executed by another component in addition to the mainfunction thereof. Some or all of the main function of each componentwhich will be explained can be carried out by another component.Accordingly, presence/absence of each component which will be describedthroughout the specification should be functionally interpreted.

A quick response (QR) code is in a form of an image that is output in adocument or included in digital content such as a web page. Thus, a userphotographs the QR code using a camera installed in a device such as asmart phone, and the photographed data is decoded by a computer devicesuch as a smart phone.

Recently, mobile devices such as smart phones and tablet personalcomputers (PCs) have become popular. Most mobile devices employinterfaces based on a touch pad. A user searches the Internet using amobile device, or is provided with a specific service by executing anapplication. At this time, when a QR code is shown in a web page orspecific content displayed in a browser, the user needs to checkinformation stored in the QR code using an additional mobile device.

In order for a user to easily check a QR code displayed in a mobiledevice, the present invention may provide an apparatus and method forconverting a QR code in the form of an image into a touchable object.Also, the present invention may provide a method of recognizing a QRcode shown in a web page, etc. with other content separately from theother content.

The present invention may be not only applied to mobile devices. Thepresent invention can be applied to computer devices including a touchpanel for a wide range of uses. Also, a method of recognizing a QR codecan be applied to a computer device, a server, etc. including aprocessor.

Before detailed description of the present invention, terminology usedin common will be defined first. A QR code is shown in a web page, ane-book, a video, a specific application, and so on. Various pieces ofcontent in which QR codes are shown are referred to as digital content.Also, data constituting digital content is referred to as content data.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of recognizinga quick response (QR) code in image data. FIG. 2 is a block diagramillustrating an example of an apparatus for recognizing a QR code inimage data. In digital content, a QR code is presented as image data.Thus, there is a need for a method of recognizing a QR code in imagedata.

A method of recognizing a QR code in image data includes a step in whicha computer device 100 displays an image including a QR code through adisplay device 120 including a touch panel 130 (510), a step in whichthe touch panel 130 receives a signal for selecting a region in whichthe QR code is shown (520), a step in which the computer device 100recognizes the QR code separately from the image (530).

The computer device 100 denotes a smart phone, a tablet PC, a generalPC, etc., and the display device 120 denotes an output device connectedwith the computer device 100. In general, a smart phone, a tablet PC,etc. is integrated into one body with the display device 120, as shownin FIG. 2. In the drawings of the present invention, description will bemade using a smart phone or a tablet PC as an example of the computerdevice 100.

Referring to FIG. 2, the computer device 100 includes a processor 110that processes various calculations, a memory that stores resultsprocessed by the processor 110 or data to be processed by the processor110, the display device 120 that outputs results calculated by theprocessor 110, and the touch panel 130 that is included in the displaydevice 120 to receive a touch input. FIG. 2 shows only a constitutionnecessary for description of the present invention. A signal input tothe touch panel 130 is transferred to the processor 110, and dataprocessed by the processor 110 is generally transferred to the displaydevice 120 via the memory 115 or a cache.

A calculation process such as image analysis performed by the computerdevice 100 means that the process is performed by the processor 110corresponding to a central processing unit (CPU).

In the receiving step (520), a user touches the region in which the QRcode is shown, or inputs a gesture for selecting the region in which theQR code is shown. When the user touches the QR code displayed on thedisplay device 120 or inputs a specific gesture for selecting the regionin which the QR code is shown, the computer device 100 recognizes the QRcode in image data. The specific gesture may be set in advance, orvarious gesture inputs set by the user may be used.

In the computer device 100 employing the touch panel 130 as an inputdevice, touch inputs are used for general commands as well. Thus, it ispreferable for the user to distinguish a touch command for recognizing aQR code from a general touch input. The user who uses the computerdevice 100 may set a QR code recognition mode before making a touchinput for recognizing a QR code.

FIG. 3(A) and FIG. 3(B) illustrates an example in which a user sets arecognition mode to recognize a QR code displayed on a display device120. FIG. 3(A) illustrates a case in which the user has selected “1. QRcode Recognition Mode” through a menu bar shown in a lower portion ofthe display device 120. FIG. 3(B) illustrates a case in which the userinputs a gesture for selecting a region in which the QR code is shownwith a quadrilateral. A mode setting shown in FIG. 3 is merely anexample. When the user touches the QR code or inputs a specific gestureafter making the mode setting, the computer device 100 recognizes the QRcode.

In the recognizing step (530), the computer device 100 determineswhether or not there is a standard QR code pattern in the image throughimage analysis.

Since it takes a long time to analyze all images displayed on thedisplay device 120, it is preferable for the computer device 100 todetecting the QR code centering around a region indicated to have a QRcode by the user through a touch or a gesture.

The recognizing step (530) may include a step in which, when the usertouches the region in which the QR code is shown in the receiving step(520), the computer device 100 searches for a standard QR code patternpresent in a search region while extending the search region centeringon the region in which the touch input or the gesture input has beenmade in the image (531), and a step in which the computer device 100recognizes the QR code based on the searched standard QR code pattern(532).

FIG. 4(A) and FIG. 4(B) illustrates an example of checking whether ornot there is a QR code centering around a point touched by a user in adisplay device 120. In FIG. 4, a point indicated by X in the displaydevice 120 denotes a point at which a touch input has been made. Inother words, description will be made regarding a case in which the userhas touched a region in which a QR code has been shown.

As shown in FIG. 4(A), in the step of searching for a standard QR codepattern (531), it may be determined whether there is a QR code while thesearch region is extended to predetermined sizes. Alternatively, in thestep of searching for a standard QR code pattern (531), the computerdevice 100 may acquire data of the image per determining while moving atarget pixel in a spiral direction from the central point of the regionin which the touch input has been made, as shown in FIG. 4(B).

Extension of the region for determining whether or not there is a QRcode is finished when a standard QR code pattern is detected. In FIG. 4,a region in which a QR code is shown is indicated by a quadrilateraldotted line. Referring to FIG. 4(A), the search region for detecting aQR code is extended in order of A, B and C, and the extension isfinished when the search region becomes the region C including a regionin which the QR code is shown. In FIG. 4(B), extension of the searchregion is made in a clockwise direction to acquire image data in unitsof one pixel, and the extension is finished at a point (indicated by“End”) including the region in which the QR code is shown.

In addition to the methods illustrated in FIG. 4, various methods usableby those of ordinary skill in the art can be used to extend a region fordetermining whether or not there is a QR code.

Using a specific pattern constituting a QR code, it is possible to checkwhether or not there is a QR code in image data. Such a pattern isreferred to as a standard QR code pattern. The computer device 100analyzes whether or not there is the standard QR code pattern in asearch region for detecting a QR code in image data.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a QR code including a plurality ofpatterns. A region constituting a QR code is indicated as a QR region.The QR code includes a plurality of position patterns P1, P2 and P3,timing patterns T1 and T2, an alignment pattern A, and a margin Bsurrounding the QR code with a predetermined length. The constitution ofa QR code may slightly vary according to QR code versions and types, buta specific pattern for detecting the QR code is necessarily used. In thepresent invention, the computer device 100 may analyze whether or notsuch a standard QR code pattern is in image data, thereby determiningwhether or not there is a QR code. A detailed standard QR code patternfor image analysis can be checked in the QR code standard (InternationalStandardization Organization (ISO)/International ElectrotechnicalCommission (IEC) 18004).

After recognizing a QR code in image data, the computer device 100 mayexecute a command stored in the QR code. For example, when the commandstored in the QR code is to copy data stored in the QR code, thecomputer device 100 may store the data included in the QR code in thememory 115 of the computer device 100. Also, when the command stored inthe QR code is a predetermined vibration pattern, the computer device100 may interpret the vibration pattern command included in the QR code,and the computer device 100 or the display device 120 may vibrateaccording to the vibration pattern command. Commands stored in QR codesmay be a variety of commands such as access to a specific web page,output of a specific image, and output of a specific sound.

It is preferable for the computer device 100 to convert a QR code shownin a web page, etc. into a touchable object. At this time, the touchableobject becomes an object for executing a command stored in the QR code.The user may check QR code information by touching the touchable objectcorresponding to the QR code without photographing the QR code using anadditional camera.

FIG. 6(A) and FIG. 6(B) are block diagrams illustrating examples of anapparatus for converting a QR code in content data into a touchableobject. The converting apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 6 denotes a computerdevice or a server 300. In other words, a QR code may be converted intoa touchable object in a mobile device such as a smart phone, or may beconverted into a touchable object in a specific server and transferredto a terminal.

The apparatus 200 for converting a QR code in content data into atouchable object includes a memory 220 that stores content dataincluding a QR code, a processor 210 that recognizes the QR code in thecontent data and converts the QR code in the content data into atouchable object for executing a command included in the QR code, and acommunication module 250 that receives the content data. In addition,the converting apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 6 further includes a displaydevice 230 and an input module 240 such as a touch panel.

Referring to FIG. 6(A), content data including a QR code is transmittedfrom a content server 50 to the converting apparatus 200. Thecommunication module 250 receives the content data transmitted from thecontent server 50, and the received content data is stored in the memory220 and then transferred to the processor 210, or directly transferredfrom the communication module 250 to the processor 210.

Referring to FIG. 6(B), content data including a QR code is stored inthe memory 220 through the input module 240. The stored content data istransferred to the processor 210. In other words, FIG. 6(A) shows anexample in which content data is input from the outside, and FIG. 6(B)shows an example in which content data is generated from the convertingapparatus 200.

The processor 210 detects image data in the content data, and determinesthe QR code in the image data.

The processor 210 interprets a command corresponding to the recognizedQR code, and may convert the code of the content data to convert theimage into a touchable object for executing the command. A detailedprocess in which the converting apparatus 200 converts a QR code into atouchable object will be described later.

Unlike FIG. 6, the apparatus 200 for converting a QR code in contentdata into a touchable object may include the memory 220 that storescontent data including a QR code, the processor 210 that recognizes theQR code in the content data and converts the QR code in the content datainto a touchable object for executing a command included in the QR code,and the communication module 250 that transmits the content dataincluding the converted QR code. In this case, the converting apparatus200 transmits the converted content data to another terminal and so on.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a server forconverting a QR code in content data into a touchable object.

The converting server 300 includes a reception module 331 that receivescontent data including a QR code, a processor 310 that recognizes the QRcode in the content data and converts the QR code in the content datainto a touchable object for executing a command included in the QR code,a memory 320 that stores the content data received by the receptionmodule 331 and the content data converted by the processor 310, and atransmission module 332 that transmits the content data including theconverted QR code.

The reception module 331 receives the content data from a content server50, and the content data including the converted QR code is transmittedto a terminal 400 such as a smart phone through the transmission module332. Since the smart phone receives and decodes the converted contentdata, a user can see the touchable object rather than the QR code in aweb page, or so on.

A conversion process performed by the converting apparatus 200 or theconverting server 300 will now be described in detail. FIG. 8 is aflowchart illustrating an example of a method of converting a QR code incontent data into a touchable object.

The method of converting a QR code in content data into a touchableobject is performed through a step in which a computer device 200 or 300receives content data including a QR code (610), a step in which thecomputer device 200 or 300 recognizes the QR code in the content data(620), and a step in which the computer device 200 or 300 converts animage in which the QR code is shown into a touchable object forexecuting a command included in the QR code (630). In the method ofconverting a QR code into a touchable object, a computer device denotesthe above-described converting apparatus 200 or server 300. Although theconverting apparatus 200 and server 300 are called the computer devices200 and 300, respective calculation processes are actually performed bythe processors 210 and 310.

The recognizing step (620) may include a step in which the computerdevice 200 or 300 detects image data in the content data (621), and astep in which the computer device 200 or 300 determines whether or notthere is a QR code in the image data (622).

The detecting step (621) is a process of detecting image data first incontent data including various pieces of content such as text, imagesand videos. For example, content such as a web page is encoded inHypertext Markup Language (HTML), and in HTML, an image is defined usinga specific tag such as “<img src=”****”>.” Thus, in the detecting step(621), the computer device 200 or 300 needs to search HTML for the imagetag only.

In the determining step (622), the computer device 200 or 300 determineswhether or not there is a standard QR code pattern in the image datathrough image analysis. The determining step (622) is the same as in theabove-described method of recognizing a QR code in image data.

The standard QR code pattern is at least one of a timing pattern, analignment pattern, and a plurality of position patterns.

The converting step (630) may include a step in which the computerdevice 200 or 300 interprets the command corresponding to the recognizedQR code (631), and a step in which the computer device 200 or 300converts the code of the content data or interprets the code in aconverted code to convert the image into a touchable object forexecuting the command (632).

To convert the QR code into a touchable object for displayinginformation stored in the QR code or executing the command, the computerdevice 200 or 300 first needs to check the information stored in the QRcode or interpret the command stored in the QR code (631). Subsequently,the computer device 200 or 300 converts the code of the content data, sothat the touchable object displays the information stored in the QR codeor executes the command. Alternatively, the computer device 200 or 300may directly decode the code corresponding to the QR code into atouchable object without converting the code.

When the content data is made up of HTML, the computer device 200 or 300searches the HTML for a code for inserting the image (image tag) andrecognizes the QR code in the recognizing step (620), the computerdevice 200 or 300 interprets the command of the QR code and thenconverts the inserting code into a code for a link to a touchable iconfor executing the command in the converting step (630).

Those of ordinary skill in the art can modify various codes (HTML, JAVA,etc.) in which the computer device 200 or 300 defines content data sothat an image is displayed as a touchable object. Thus, detaileddescription will be omitted. For example, in the case of HTML, a code‘<img src=“QRcode.jpg”>’ may be modified into ‘<a href=“URL”><imgsrc=“Touch_button.jpg”></a>.’n example in which content data includingQR codes is displayed on a display device, and FIG. 9(B) illustrates anexample in which the QR codes of FIG. 9(A) have been converted intotouchable objects. FIG. 9 illustrates the converting apparatus 200 as anexample, and in the case of the converting server 300, content as shownin FIG. 9 will be displayed in the terminal 400 that receives convertedcontent data.

FIG. 9(A) illustrates a web page for describing a specific product. QRcodes shown in a lower portion of FIG. 9(A) are intended to introducevideos of the product. For convenience of description, type 1 and type 2are shown. FIG. 9(B) shows an example in which the QR codes have beenconverted into touchable objects. Type 1 has been converted into a textlink object linked to the address of a web page, and type 2 has beenconverted into a touchable button.

The method of converting a QR code in content data into a touchableobject may further include a step in which the display device 230 or 400connected with the computer device 200 or 300 displays the content dataand the touchable object (640).

The touchable object is at least one of a QR code type, a text type, anda button type. The QR code type is the form of a touchable QR codeimage, the text type is the form of touchable text such as type 1 ofFIG. 9(B), and the button type is the form of a touchable button such astype 2 of FIG. 9(B). In addition to these, various icons, a clickablebutton, etc, may be used as the touchable object.

FIG. 10(A) illustrates an example in which a user touches a QR codedisplayed on a display device, and FIG. 10(B) illustrates an example inwhich a command stored in the QR code touched in FIG. 10(A) has beenexecuted. FIG. 10(A) shows a process of touching a QR code related toinformation on a boarding pass, and FIG. 10(B) illustrates an image ofthe boarding pass displayed after the QR code is touched.

In the present invention, information stored in a QR code may bedisplayed, or a command may be executed in two ways. First, the computerdevice 100 recognizing a QR code may recognize a QR code in image data,and directly display information stored in the QR code or execute acommand. Second, the computer device 200 or 300 converting a QR code mayconvert a QR code into a touchable object, and then a user may touch thetouchable object displayed in a display device of the terminal, therebydisplaying information stored in the QR code or executing a command.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of placing a QR code in content datadisplayed on a display device. This process is an example in which a QRcode is placed in specific content data through the input module 240 inthe converting apparatus 200 as shown in FIG. 6(B).

For example, when a user touches a specific point while writing an emailon a device such as a smart phone as shown in FIG. 11(A), a QR code isplaced at the point. The user transmits the email in which the QR codehas been placed to his or her counterpart. The user may generate a QRcode by touching a specific point or inputting a specific gesture aftersetting a QR code generation mode. The user may set the QR codegeneration mode in a menu of an application, or by inputting a specificgesture.

The user may set information to be stored in a QR code in advance.Information stored in QR codes includes text, image data, Internetprotocol (IP) addresses, and so on. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustratingan example of a method of generating content data including a QR code.

A method of generating content data including a QR code includes a stepin which the computer device 200 displays content of an applicationthrough the display device 230 including a touch panel (710), a step inwhich the touch panel receives a QR code generation signal (720), a stepin which the computer device 200 generates a QR code including datastored in the memory 220 (730), and a step in which the computer device200 places the QR code in the content (740). In this case, the generatedQR code contains specific data currently copied to the memory 220.

In the generating step (730), when the data exceeds the storage capacityof a QR code, the computer device 200 may store the data in a cloudserver through wireless communication, and generate a QR code includinga key for accessing the cloud server. Since the storage capacity of a QRcode is limited to a predetermined value, when a large amount of data isplaced, the computer device 200 stores information on a path along whichthe data is stored in the QR code.

The application is at least one of a mail application, a socialnetworking service (SNS) application, a messenger application, and a webpage building application, and in the placing step (740), the computerdevice 100 modifies the code of the content so that the QR code isincluded in the content as an image.

A number of examples have been described above. Nevertheless, it will beunderstood that various modifications may be made. For example, suitableresults may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in adifferent order and/or if components in a described system,architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different mannerand/or replaced or supplemented by other components or theirequivalents. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope ofthe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of recognizing a quick response (QR)code in image data, comprising: receiving, by a computer device, acontent data including an image from a server via a network; displaying,by the computer device, the image including a QR code through a displaydevice including a touch panel; receiving, by the touch panel, a signalfor selecting a region in which the QR code is shown; and recognizing,by the computer device, the QR code from the image, wherein recognizingthe QR code comprises: searching an image file of the QR code from thecontent data by analyzing the computer code of the content data; andrecognizing the QR code from the image file of the QR code.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the signal is a touch signal for the regionin which the QR code is shown, or a gesture for selecting the region inwhich the QR code is shown.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinrecognizing the QR code includes determining whether or not there is astandard QR code pattern in the image through image analysis.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein recognizing the QR code includes: when thesignal is a touch signal for the region in which the QR code is shownsearching for a standard QR code pattern in a search region of the imagewhile extending the search region centering on a region in which thetouch signal is input; and recognizing the QR code based on the searchedstandard QR code pattern.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein searchingfor the standard QR code pattern includes acquiring data of the imageper pixel while moving a target pixel in a spiral direction from acentral point of the region in which the touch signal is input.
 6. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the standard QR code pattern is at least oneof a timing pattern, an alignment pattern, and a plurality of positionpatterns.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing, at thecomputer device, data included in the QR code in a memory of thecomputer device.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprisinginterpreting, at the computer device, a vibration pattern commandincluded in the QR code; and vibrating, at the display device, accordingto the vibration pattern command.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein theimage is included in a web page displayed on the display device orcontent of an application.
 10. A method of recognizing a quick response(QR) code in image data, comprising: receiving, by a computer device, acontent data including an image from a server via a network; displaying,by the computer device, the image including a QR code through a displaydevice including a touch panel; receiving, by the touch panel, a signalfor selecting a region in which the QR code is shown; recognizing, bythe computer device, the QR code from the image; and converting, at thecomputer device, an image in which the QR code is shown into a touchableobject for executing a command included in the QR code.
 11. The methodof claim 10, wherein said converting the image comprises: interpretingthe command corresponding to the recognized QR code; and converting acode of the content data to convert the image into the touchable objectfor executing the command.